In December 2019, six international organizations came together to publish a first booklet on the importance of investing in career guidance. The joint effort reflected the fact that the need for guidance had increased sharply with people staying in education and training longer and pressure growing on people to upskill and reskill.

Today’s labour market is still more turbulent. COVID-19 has deeply disrupted demand for workers and accelerated patterns of automation and digital transformation that are radically changing the character of work and increasing risks of joblessness and precarious employment.

What’s more, globalization, demographic trends and growing efforts to create greener economies are changing the character of demand for skills in labour markets around the world. Career guidance has an essential part to play in recovery plans and in helping people of all ages and backgrounds to navigate such disruption.